1
as in terrifying
causing fear
hair-raising stories of headless corpses and disembodied screams
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in breathtaking
causing great emotional or mental stimulation
a theme park that is legendary for its lightning-fast roller-coaster and other hair-raising rides
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of hair-raising
Oh, there are plenty of opportunity for that: Feliz says the season only gets more hair-raising from here.
—
Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2024
The reason this seems hair-raising is that most generative AI is devised to wait for the human to initiate a conversation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
Among them were experienced mountaineers accustomed to steep terrain where any fall could be fatal, and casual hikers who had never before attempted to climb anything as hair-raising.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2024
The players’ recounted exploits are at once hair-raising, nostalgic and moving.
—Drew Goins, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
But Schlosser’s gifts as a storyteller lend his book a visceral quality, such that every successive accident or close call feels more hair-raising than the last.
—Gregory D. Koblentz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2013
Formula 1: On and Off the Track Still a Thrill: Monaco’s narrow track hinders overtaking, but, oh boy, do those tight roads make qualifying hair-raising.
—Ian Parkes, New York Times, 23 May 2024
The going was beautiful but slow and a little hair-raising as day turned to night.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The drive had been hair-raising (though nothing compared to a later jaunt on Hiva Oa, where Gauguin is buried, during which our guide Heimata played a ukulele while skirting the edge of a cliff and steering with his knee).
—Peter Heller, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2024
Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2024
The reason this seems hair-raising is that most generative AI is devised to wait for the human to initiate a conversation.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
Among them were experienced mountaineers accustomed to steep terrain where any fall could be fatal, and casual hikers who had never before attempted to climb anything as hair-raising.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2024
The players’ recounted exploits are at once hair-raising, nostalgic and moving.
—Drew Goins, Washington Post, 31 July 2024
But Schlosser’s gifts as a storyteller lend his book a visceral quality, such that every successive accident or close call feels more hair-raising than the last.
—Gregory D. Koblentz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2013
Formula 1: On and Off the Track Still a Thrill: Monaco’s narrow track hinders overtaking, but, oh boy, do those tight roads make qualifying hair-raising.
—Ian Parkes, New York Times, 23 May 2024
The going was beautiful but slow and a little hair-raising as day turned to night.
—Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
The drive had been hair-raising (though nothing compared to a later jaunt on Hiva Oa, where Gauguin is buried, during which our guide Heimata played a ukulele while skirting the edge of a cliff and steering with his knee).
—Peter Heller, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Jan. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hair-raising
Adjective
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His first book, Dark Days vividly and unflinchingly chronicled his terrifying experience being jailed on charges of manslaughter (he was acquitted on all counts).—
Bill Kopp,
SPIN,
20 Feb. 2025
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For those who have watched DOGE storm into their workplace, what is perhaps most terrifying is its attempts to scale.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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All summer long, TV broadcasters discussed the crowds flocking to Sardinia’s stunning coastlines, the historic streets of Rome and the breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast.—
Andrea Pietrini,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Sailing roundtrip from Seattle on select dates between June and September 2025, this itinerary brings guests face-to-face with some of Alaska’s most breathtaking landscapes and cultural highlights.—
Bailey Berg,
AFAR Media,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Bates is frightening in her stillness, which makes Annie’s sudden bursts of violence all the more horrifying.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
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The key, psychologists say, is the emotional weight of those headlines’ content—especially for people who find what’s happening in the U.S. today to be genuinely frightening.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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For now, the idea of Martian beaches and waves offers an exciting glimpse into the planet’s ancient history — and its potential to have once supported life.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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These moments can be exciting, ratcheting up the tension of an encounter as natural forces and world physics impact the flow of the game.—
Josh Broadwell,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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JPMorgan said the stock is at an attractive entry point with lower expectations and a formidable path for growth.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2025
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The exec has formidable experience across the live-action and animation spheres as well as family fare.—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The 4 Nations Face-Off has been a thrilling showcase of hockey excellence, featuring top-tier players from four of the sport’s most passionate nations.—
Jay Ginsbach,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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But the choice can make for a thrilling contrast to the eroticism on display: This is a world of blood and viscera, body fluids, and entrails, and Kurzel is going to show you all of it.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But like the best scary movies, Horror has a strong ending.—
Brendan Hay,
SPIN,
19 Feb. 2025
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Soto, Judge trade barbs Once, long ago — ahem, last season — Juan Soto and Aaron Judge formed the scariest hitting combination in MLB.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Di Placido covers TikTok and Twitter trends, breaking down interesting conversations and controversies surrounding celebrities and the entertainment industry, focusing on fantasy and sci-fi stories such as Star Wars and House of the Dragon.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
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Perhaps the most interesting detail came from Alonso, the only active F1 driver to attend an F1 ‘legends’ dinner held in London on Monday night.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hair-raising.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair-raising. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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